Chapter 4: The First Big Game

The crowd was humming with expectancy. As the players warmed up, the lights scorched down on the polished court creating lengthy shadows of the players. For Jaxon, game day—the first major game of the season—was more than simply a scheduled event.

This was the opportunity he had been waiting for—the chance to show to everyone—including himself—that he qualified as Alpha.

Jaxon watched his buddies go through their pregame rituals close to the sidelines. His heart accelerated with enthusiasm rather than with anxiety. This was where he flourished—under the brilliant lights—while pressure was rising.

Familiar and soothing even were the sound of shoes squeaking on the parquet and the scent of perspiration. Still, this was a different game. It was the first trial of whether all the effort, all the gym hours would be worth.

The opponents are the rivals. The Riverdale Wildcats, their rivals, lacked push-overs. Champions last year, they were well-known for their fierce defense and quick attack.

Early in the game, the Wildcats were known for dominating their opponent and making them play catch-up. Jaxon understood the need of starting powerfully. He had examined Mason Quinn, the shooting guard with a lethal three-point shot and lightning-fast release.

Coach Davis called the players together with a steady yet forceful voice.

"This is our opportunity for statement making. After all the effort we have put in, it is now time to present to them our interpretation. Trust one another, follow the game strategy, and most essential, refuse allow them control the tempo.

We regulate the pace. I understood.

The crew nodded, a combination of anxious excitement and focus flowing from the huddle. Jaxon glanced around at his colleagues. Still clinging to a trace of competition, Zane nodded quickly.

Tonight they were unified, despite tremendous rivalry. Time came to set aside their disagreements and cooperate.

The Adventure Starts tension in the stadium surged as the referee threw the ball for the initial tip-off. The ball briefly hovered in the air until Jaxon's teammate Evan swiftly tapped it toward Jaxon from a rapid hop. The game was in progress.

Jaxon dribbled the floor, evaluating the Wildcats' defense. They were swift, rapidly closing in on him. Jaxon, however, was quicker.

He drove to the hoop for a fast laydown after crossing over his opponent and slashing through the lane with a burst of speed. As the ball slid over the goal, the audience let out shouts. It launched exactly.

The Wildcats, meanwhile, were relentless. Mason Quinn answered right away, silencing the assembly with a long three-pointer. As Jaxon ran back on defense, he could see Mason's smile.

Not going to be a simple game.

The following few minutes were a whirl of quick breaks, thefts, and challenged shots. Every bit as fierce as promised, the Wildcats' defense caught Jaxon every time he touched the ball. Jaxon, however, had seen this coming.

Having studied their defensive strategies for hours, he was aware of their shortcomings.

Thriller Element: Pressure builds here. Middle of the first quarter, the game changed course. The tough defense of the Wildcats resulted in a run of turnovers, and Westbrook quickly dropped eight points.

The momentum had changed, and the Wildcats were drawing on the vitality of their advantage.

Calling a stop, Coach Davis brought the players together. "Calm down," he murmured in a quiet but forceful voice. "We knew they would be arriving swinging.

We have to regulate the tempo. Reduce it slowly. Make them players of our game.

Jaxon nodded, weight of the game resting on his shoulders. This was what it meant to be the Alpha—not just point scorer but also team rally agent when most required. As they scattered the group, he inhaled deeply. This was his flashpoint.

Jaxon slowed down the game back on the court and seized command of the offensive. He began planning shows and arranging his colleagues for open shots. Three-corner hit by Zane, Evan got a rebound and returned it for two, and gradually Westbrook worked their way back into the game.

The Wildcats were still threatening, but now they were playing at their own speed.

Romantic Plot: Maya's Interaction Jaxon turned to face the stands Maya was seated in, her eyes fixed on him as the game went on. She had been covering the game for the sports channel of the university, but Jaxon sensed her eyes were more intimate than businesslike. Knowing she was there seemed to have something about sharpening his attention and strengthening his will.

Maya saw him during a pause in play and grinned, a quiet motivator. Jaxon missed a beat in his heart. Though his basketball passion had driven her to the brink, he knew things had been strained between them recently and tonight he wanted to show to her he could be the Alpha on the court and yet be the guy she needed.

Still, there was little time to give it any thought. Mason Quinn was keeping the Wildcats in the lead by relentlessly hitting shot after shot from outside.

The Second Half: Changing the Course The second half of the game turned out to be fascinating. By halftime, Westbrook had closed the advantage to five points, but the Wildcats were not about to allow them lead without contest. Both sides traded baskets in the third quarter, which was a slog with no notable advantage gained either.

Jaxon was beginning to pay the physical toll the game was taking. His legs felt heavy and the Wildcats' defense was draining him. That did not stop him, however.

This was where leaders were developed.

Driven to start something, he asked for the ball.

Jaxon found himself one-on-one with Mason as the shot clock was running down. As Jaxon dribbled, measuring his opponent, the audience held its breath. He crossed across, but Mason shut off his route to the basket quickly.

Jaxon pretended to shoot, which had Mason rush forward and then quickly step back to unleash a mid-range jumper. The whole stadium saw the slow motion ball fly across the air.

Swish....

As the ball passed neatly past the net, the throng burst. Jaxon had lately knotted the game, and the momentum was changing.

The last quarter: a struggle until the finish The fourth quarter was a will contest. Though neither side was ready to give up, both were worn out. Every possession counted, and there was obvious arena tension.

The game was deadlocked once again, less than two minutes left.

Coach Davis sketched up a play for Jaxon when Westbrook had the ball. The idea was straightforward: get the ball in his hands and let him decide. With his shoulders feeling the weight of the game, Jaxon dribbled near the top of the key.

Though his thoughts was quiet and focussed, he could hear the audience, the pounding pulse of the game.

Mason Quinn was watching above him, staring exactly at Jaxon's every action. Juxon understood he had to count this.

Drawing Mason with him, he drove toward the hoop, kicked the ball to Zane in the corner just as the defense fell apart.

Zane stopped for a short second then fired the shot. Before eventually sinking through the net, the ball hovered in the air for what seemed like an age. Westbrook climbed three.

The Excite Finale The Wildcats had one more opportunity to even the game. Driven to demand overtime, Mason Quinn carried the ball up the court. His eyes fixed on the hoop, he dribbled toward the three-point line.

But Jaxon was prepared. Jaxon sprang into the air, his hand outstretched as Mason drew back for the shot.

The ball touched Jaxon's fingers and just enough changed its path.

The ball bounced off the rim, and Evan collected the rebound to ensure Westbrook would win. As the last beep rang, the audience burst in applause.

Jaxon was smiling while breathing fiercely from central court. It was more than simply a victory; it was the first step in demonstrating he has what it takes to guide this club to excellence.